Work Smarter Not Harder // How To Start The Day Off Right!

I'm often on my soapbox about the importance of working smarter, not harder -- but I know babes sometime still struggle to know what that means for them in their biz!

So today I wanted to share a few ways you can start working smarter not harder right now, no matter what type of business you have!

There are so many tips I'm excited to share with you, but to make it less overwhelming, I've decided to break them up and share them in doses that you can actually take and put into work right away!

Starting at the beginning...

“Fortune favors the prepared mind” Louis Pasteur

There's nothing more powerful than being prepared!

Here are some of my favorite ways to set yourself up for success before the day even starts!

➕ Make a list of your tasks for the day.✏️

A simple checklist of the things you need to do can be surprisingly helpful at keeping you on track. Aside from ensuring that you don’t forget to do any of the tasks, you also have a visual of what you've accomplished and how much left you have to do. It also helps set a tone, agenda, and expectations for the day!

➕Check your agenda for the next few weeks.📆

It's always good to have an idea of what's coming up! (Especially if you may have upcoming deadlines that require a week or more of work!) It also helps so you can manage your time and resources properly. Remember to stay flexible, as changes can happen within those few weeks!

➕Use an app to keep track of your checklist.✅

That thing you always have in your hand-- yeah, your phone, put it to work and use it to keep track of the things that need doing for the day. Apps can also help you prepare your schedule for weeks in advance. Remember that a smartphone is only as smart as the person who is using it. 😳

➕Set up reminders for meetings and tasks.⏰

When you set up a reminder on your cellphone, you are reducing the risk that you will run late or miss appointments and tasks altogether. Setting a reminder can also take a load off of your mind and allow you to concentrate better on the task at hand.

➕Prep needed supplies.🗃

Though arguably this can be considered part of the work that you do, for argument’s sake let us put it in this category. Having all the tools and supplies ready makes it easy to complete tasks because you won’t have to break your concentration (or spend time) going to get something.

➕Set your cellphone to silent, vibrate-only or do not disturb mode.📲

The phone can be a black hole of temptation. Help reduce distractions by setting it to do not disturb and only checking it on work "breaks" in between completing tasks!

➕Manage your e-mail settings.📨

Setting a filter to redirect and categorize your e-mail messages can be helpful, especially if you use one e-mail address for your work and personal life (which is not recommended, especially if it is a corporate e-mail address). This way if something pops up in the personal e-mail inbox, you can let it slide ‘til later, while something that comes into the work inbox deserves at least a glance.

➕Set up your workspace.🗄

While having your own office usually means that you can usually add things that express your individuality, adding too much personality to your workspace can be distracting. How can you focus on that on the task at hand if there's distractions all around? Decorate your workspace only with things that help you stay focused on the job.

➕Eat a healthy breakfast.🍓🥞

Low energy and a bad mood in the morning are often the results of skipping the most important meal of the day. Make it a point to eat your breakfast and you will see the difference. Drop the coffee-and-donut routine and look for something healthier like some fruit pancakes. No time to prepare in the morning? Make breakfast the night before and put it in a plastic container so you can eat it on the way.

➕Prepare everything you need the day before.🌜

In the morning rush to get to work the following morning, it is easy to forget things needed for work. It is not a big deal if you can easily replace them but what if it was your PowerPoint presentation outlining company performance to be presented to the top brass? This is a worst-case scenario the must be avoided at all costs. Do this by taking time to prepare everything you need before you go to bed. Make a list and check it twice before you doze off.

➕Check your mindset!💁🏻

How could you finish that report when your mind is wandering? Get motivated before work! That way, when it's time to work, you'll go straight to business without wasting precious time to motivate yourself while the clock starts ticking. This means you have more time to finish your work and get more done!

What are some ways you work smarter not harder before your day even starts? Which of these do you need to start working on?! Tell us in the comments!

And check back next week for more tips about working smarter not harder AT work! 🔥